The Advantages Of Training Antelope To Cooperate With Veterinary Procedures
Habituation and Conditioning Steps Time Required
Nyala Bongo
Acclimate and habituate the animals to the presence of a shipping/transfer crate in the stall. At this stage of training, the animals can walk by the crate to go outside to the exhibit. 7 days 7 days
Habituate to handling crate and movement of the vertical slide doors. Barn door closed against the crate. Animals must walk through the crate to go to outdoor exhibit. 10 days 17 days
Train to enter crate and eat treats with rear door open and front door closed. 21 days 21 days
Initial capture in crate and release immediately. 7 days 7 days
Habituate to stand captured in the crate for up to 10 minutes while continually being fed treats. 10 days 24 days
Habituate to open bleed hole door and being touched on the rear leg. 14 days 14 days
Condition to simulated blood sampling (increasingly hard pinches). Halfway throught this period, treats were withheld and food was given only as a reward after the animal had stood still. 14 days 14 days
Successful blood sampling of all animals. 14 days 14 days
Total Training Days 97 days up to 118 days